Chihuahuas’ Cody Decker Named 2015 Triple-A All-Star

The Pacific Coast League announced its 2015 Triple-A All-Star game roster and El Paso Chihuahuas infielder Cody Decker was elected as designated hitter.

Decker is currently tied for third in the PCL with 15 home runs. His .584 slugging percentage is second best in the league.

Decker is the second El Paso Chihuahuas player to be named a Triple-A All-Star, after infielder Jonathan Galvez was selected in 2014 and played in the Triple-A All-Star Game in Durham, North Carolina last July.

Omaha Storm Chasers manager Brian Poldberg will oversee the PCL All-Star club, which features 30 of the best players from across the league. Thirteen players were elected to the team by balloting of the club’s field managers and general managers, members of the media, and online fan voting, while 17 were selected by the Pacific Coast League office.

The Oklahoma City Dodgers, who own the league’s best record at 50-27, have two elected starters with catcher Austin Barnes and second baseman Darnell Sweeney. Barnes holds a .302 batting average in 2015, while Sweeney has swiped a league-best 25 bases. The Tacoma Rainiers will have multiple All-Star starters on the infield for the second-consecutive year, as Jesus Montero will man first base and Ketel Marte will play at shortstop. Montero is batting .314 with 13 home runs and Marte has a .343 average in 51 games. Jamie Romak will start at third base, while his Reno Aces teammate Peter O’Brien will be in the outfield. Romak currently leads the PCL with 152 total bases, while O’Brien’s 15 home runs are tied for the third-most in the circuit. Also in the outfield with O’Brien will be L.J. Hoes from the Fresno Grizzlies and Matt McBride of the Albuquerque Isotopes. McBride’s .347 batting average is the second-highest in the PCL, followed by Hoes’ .338 clip at fourth. Cody Decker, who has hit 15 home runs this year, will be the PCL’s designated hitter in Omaha, becoming the first El Paso Chihuahua to ever start an All-Star Game.